Mpigi: UPDF announces strict reforms on fishing

________________ In a major bid to rescue the Country's marine economy, the Deputy Chief of Defense Forces, Lt Gen Sam Okiding, has declared an immediate overhaul of fishing operations on major landing sites by enforcing aggressive limits on Lake Victoria across Mpigi district . The security crackdown targets illegal fishing practices and also aims to flush out unlicensed fishermen and fishmongers, and all destructive fishing cartels. Addressing lakeside fishing communities at Ssenyondo fish landing site in Buwama in Mpigi district, Lt Gen Sam Okiding, who also heads the committee set up by President Yoweri Museveni , to reorganise fishing communities said operations at all gazetted landing sites will face strict legal caps to prevent overcrowding and overfishing. "After different reports revealed that the number of fish in Uganda's major Lakes was declining, we had to come up with a plan to reorganise the fishing industry to promote fish stocks in Uganda's major waters through promotion of sustainable fishing practices," Okiding said. According to Okiding, offenders caught using illegal gear will be arrested and prosecuted under the Fisheries and Aquaculture Act, which carries a sentence of up to 7 years upon conviction. To curb bribery and bureaucratic delays, Okiding said courts will issue direct orders allowing the marine military to destroy confiscated fishing gear on site. According to Let Gen Okiding, under the new guidelines, activities in the fish breeding areas inside the lake, use of monofilament nets, hurry-ups, and also using artificial lights to fish silverfish locally called Mukene, are all banned with immediate effect.